Category: Art

BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT #1 created by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, Sanford Greene / Z-View

BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT #1 created by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, Sanford Greene

Coloring: Matt Herms

Lettering: Hasson Otsmane-Elhaou

Publisher: Image Comics

Going back as far as can be told the Sangeryes have been Jinoo hunters. Jinoo were once human.  They became so poisoned by greed, hate, racism and other evils that the Jinoo became monsters. Some could be cured.  Others had to be killed.  But the cost to the Sangerye family was heavy.

Now, in the year 1964, the United States government say the Jinoo have been eliminated.  The Sangerye family knows differently.

When a bus load of young civil rights activists are brutally murdered in Mississippi, government agents are sent down.  The agents discover the destroyed bus.  The corpses, at least those that they can find, were butchered.  Recent attacks in Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana were increasingly brutal.  This is even worse.

The lead agent is unwilling to say Jinoo have returned. Meriah Manigo, a member of the Sangerye family knows differently.  And she’s now on site.

The original BITTER ROOT series received my highest recommendation.  I love that the original creative team of writers David F. Walker and Chuck Brown along with artist Sanford Greene have returned.   They haven’t missed a beat as they continue the BITTER ROOT story.  Kudos also to colorist Matt Herms and letterer Hasson Otsmane-Elhaou.

Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t read the original series.  You don’t need it to enjoy BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT.  (But I do encourage you to seek out the original series as well!)

BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT #1 gets my highest recommendation.

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FULLY LOADED #1 created, written, illustrated and lettered by Jimmy Broxton / Z-View

FULLY LOADED #1: THERE GOES THE FUTURE Part 1 created, written, illustrated and lettered by Jimmy Broxton

Publisher: Verity/Scratch Comics

The year is 2065.  Ten years ago Carson Blake betrayed the only “family” he ever knew.  And the only woman he ever loved.  So he left the city.  No reason to go back.

Then Blake gets a call.

It’s from Austin Roper.  The one man who knew how to get in touch.  Austin Roper.  The bravest and most loyal soldier Blake knew.  Austin Roper.  The man who saved Blake’s life.

Roper tells Blake, “Atticus and his crew have kidnapped my wife and kids.  If I can’t get you to come back –”  Roper doesn’t even finish the sentence.  Blake is on his way.

Now Blake has a reason to return.  Better buckle up.

Jimmy Broxton’s Fully Loaded checks all the right boxes.  It has a vibe that feels like Broxton took the best parts of Blade Runner, Frank Miller’s Sin City, The Road Warrior, classic gangster movies and filtered them all through his sensibilities.

Broxton introduces us to the Fully Loaded world while moving the story forward.  There’s a mystery to exactly what Blake did that put him at odds with the family and cost him the love of his life.  Broxton has created a story with all the makings of a fun ride.  Honor, betrayal, loyalty, are all coming into play.

Broxton’s art is amazing.  Printed in beautiful black and white.  Jaw-dropping double-page spreads.  Atmosphere oozes off every page.  And let’s not forget Broxton’s use of lettering as sound effects.

Jimmy Broxton’s Fully Loaded was offered as a trade edition on Zoop.  I supported the campaign, but couldn’t pass on issue one when I saw it was available.  In addition to the story, Broxton gives us four pages that appear as ads from 2065 plus one page hinting at next issue.  I cannot wait!

FULLY LOADED #1 gets my highest recommendation.

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